Threepole-switch for wall mounting with contact dampening means



Aug. 8, 1967 E. BASSANI 3,335,248 THREEPOLE-SWITCH FOR WALL MOUNTINGWITH CONTACT DAMPENING MEANS Filed April 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l E.BASSANI SWI Aug. 8, 1967 THREEPOLE TCH FOR WALL MOUNTING WITH CONTACTDAMPENING MEANS 2 Sheets-Shem Filed April 5, 1966 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,335,248 THREEPOLE-SWITCH FOR WALL MOUNTING WITHCONTACT DAMPENING MEANS Ermanno Bassani, Corso di Porta Vittoria 9,Milan, Italy Filed Apr. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 540,380

Claims priority, application Italy, Apr. 12, 1965, 8,138/65 6 Claims.(Cl. 200-166) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch for wall mountingcomprising a housing, at least one fixed contact, at least one movablecontact in the housing movable in and out of engagement with the fixedcontact and provided with dampening means to prevent rebounding of themovable contact during engagement with the fixed contact.

This invention relates to a threepole-switch conceived, built and sizedso as to be set on a small frame to be placed under the wall plaster, insubstitution for, or in combination with other such electric devices newor already used in the same manner, as, f.i., unipolar-switches, bells,sockets and the like.

The object of this invention is to obtain a threepoleswitch especiallyadapted for supporting electric powers up to four and five kw., ofreduced size, so as to be set into a wall, with the system comprisingother such electric devices.

A further object of this invention is to provide a threepole-switch ofthe aforesaid kind suitable for large series manufacturing at low cost,whereby the switch although of reduced size, it is in condition toensure a quick opening and closing of its contacts, without anyrebounding so as to assure a long life of the threepole-switch.

According to the invention, the threepole-switch comprises an externalcasing of such size so that it may be mounted along side of furtherelectric devices and set-up together with them onto a supporting framefor their enclosing into a wall.

A further characteristic of this invention is that the mobile contactsare supported by elastic, arcuated blades for conducting the electriccurrent, and fastened to small levers, whereon an insulating member isdue to act with the help of appropriate compression springs after it hasacquired a certain speed, thus ensuring a clear and rapid opening of thecontacts, and consenting to the closing of the contacts, due to theaction of said springs, together with the elastic contact holders, theycompose an elastic damping system which impedes any rebounding of themobile contacts, when they connect with the fixed contacts.

Still a further characteristic of the invention is that the fixedcontacts which are located adjacent each other are separated from oneanother by appropriate electrically insulating walls.

Another characteristic is that in the rear portion of the casing of thethreepole-switch, there are provided, on opposed rows, the terminals forthe connection of the electric conductors, said terminals beingseparated and protected by insulating walls.

An embodiment of a switch according to the invention is shown by way ofa non limiting example on the herewith attached drawings and describedhereinunder, as follows.

Of said drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows the threepole-switch with a small supporting frame,whereon it is set up;

FIGURES 2 and 3 represent partially in cross section, the dispositionand the movement of the mobile contacts;

FIGURE 4 represents in perspective view the threepoleswitch;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the threepole-switch in combinationwith other electric devices to be enclosed within a wall; and

FIGURE 6 shows the setting-up of the threepole-switch on a supportingframe for the disposition of a unique device.

In FIGURE 1, the switch according to the invention is constituted by acasing 1 having a rectangular cross section, presenting a front lever 2for control purpose, projecting from said casing and being surrounded bya fastening band 3 connected to said casing by means of clasping means 4encompassing projections 5 protruding from said casing. Said claspingband 3 is provided at its upper and lower portions with small tongues 6and 7, by means of which it is fastened on a small supporting frame 8 ofknown kind, to support electric devices of various nature. Said smallframe shows one or more small windows or apertures 9 set next to eachother.

In correspondence of each aperture 9 there is provided a lower split 10,wherein tongue 7 is introduced, and an upper split 11, wherein tongue 6is fitted and locked by means a wedge like tongue 12 conveniently bentby means of an appropriate tool. Fastening of said clasping band 3 inthe said manner will result that lever 2 projects through the aperture 9and from the window of a plate 13 (FIGURES l and 5), which has so manysmall windows as said small frame and coinciding with the windows of thelatter.

Within the remaining windows of said small frame there may be placedfurther devices to complete the desired combination of controls.

In the example of embodiment shown, the represented devices are (FIGURE5) a bell contact 14, a simple electric switch 15 and a socket 16, towhich a small plug 17 is connected.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, lever 2 instantly displaces either to theone -or the other direction a rigid member 18 by means of a catch per seknown. The member 18 has the function to move the movable contacts ofthe threepole-switch, only two of which are visible on the drawing.These movable contacts 19 are supported by elastic arcuated blades 20,respectively integral with small levers 21 fulcrumed at 22, and providedat their upper portions with projections to interfere with the aforesaidmember 18.

As shown in FIGURE 2, when contacts 19 are contacting with the fixedcontacts 24, the member 18 is remote from said projections 23. Thus,when lever 2 is actuated for the opening of the threepole-switch, themember 18 will acquire a certain speed before it engages proso as todisplace the latter with considerable quick opening of the movablecontacts, against the force of springs 25 acting on levers 21.

When lever 2 is actuated for the closure of the threepole-switch as perthis invention, the member 18 will be rapidly displaced, under theaction of springs 25, so that the latter can turn said levers untilcontacts 19 will engage with contacts 24. The elastic blades 20 formtogether with said springs 25 a damping system to avoid any reboundingof the movable contacts from the fixed confacts.

The opening and closing of the threepole-switch will be thus free of anysparking which could provoke welding or destroying of the contacts inshort time.

As it may be observed from FIGURES 2 and 3, the fixed contacts arerespectively separated by electrically insulating walls 26, whichprotect the contacts against the formation of electric arcs, inparticular during the opening step.

As shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the fixed contacts and the movablecontacts are connected to terminals 27', 28, respectively, to which theelectric Wires are attached. Said terminals are separated from eachother by means of separating walls 29, whereby said contacts areelectrically and mechanically insulated.

FIGURE 6 illustrates how a threepole-switch can be installed as singledevice. In this case, the small frame 30 used will receive the form asshown in FIGURE 6, that is with a single window or aperture for thepassage of lever 2, and with means for fastening to said small frame 30by means of a plate or cover of adequate sizes. Said small frame is alsomanufactured with slits 10, 11 for the insertion of the small tongues 6,7, respectively.

Of course the invention may be realized in various forms differing fromthat described in the specification and illustrated without departing inany way from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch comprising, in combination, a housing; at least one fixedcontact in said housing; at least one movable contact means in saidhousing and comprising a lever pivotally mounted at one end in saidhousing, an arcuate blade integrally connected at one end to said leverinter mediate the ends of the latter and projecting therefrom towardssaid fixed contact, and a contact portion fixed to the other end of saidblade, said lever being turnable between an open position in which saidcontact portion is spaced from said fixed contact and a closed positionin which said contact portion engages said fixed contact; biasing meanscooperating with said lever and being biassed so as to tend to move thelatter to said closed position; and operating means extending from theexterior of the housing into the latter and including a membercooperating with the other end of said lever and being movable from anactive position engaging said other end of said lever to move the latteragainst the force of said biasing means to said open position, and aninactive position spaced from said other end of said lever so that 4 thelatter will rapidly move under the influence of said biasing means tosaid closed position, whereby said arcuate blade will prevent reboundingof said contact portion from said fixed contact after engagement withthe latter.

2. A switch as defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprisesa compression spring.

3. A switch as defined in claim 1, and including at least one pair ofterminals respectively connected to said fixed contact and to said leverand extending to the outside of said housing.

4. A switch as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing has an open end,and including a cover fixed to said housing at said open end, said coverbeing formed with an aperture therethrough through which said operatingmeans projects, and means on said cover for connecting the same to awall frame.

5. A switch as defined in claim 1, wherein said switch includes threefixed contacts spaced from each other, and three movable contactsrespectively cooperating with said fixed contacts and biasing means foreach of said movable contacts; and including separating wallsrespectively extending between said fixed contacts and between saidmovable contacts.

6. A switch as defined in claim 5, and including a terminal for each ofsaid contacts, the terminals for the fixed contacts being arranged inone row at one side of said housing and the terminals for said movablecontacts being arranged in another row at the other side of saidhousing, and separating walls between the terminals of each row.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,788,869 1/1957 Bentley 174-532,969,418 1/1961 Benander 174-53 3,172,972 3/1965 Schleicher 200166FOREIGN PATENTS 1,274,117 9/1961 'France.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. O, JONES, Assistant Examiner,

1. A SWITCH COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING; AT LEAST ONE FIXEDCONTACT IN SAID HOUSING; AT LEAST ONE MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS IN SAIDHOUSING AND COMPRISING A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END IN SAIDHOUSING, AN ARCUATE BLADE INTEGRALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID LEVERINTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE LATTER AND PROJECTING THEREFROM TOWARDSSAID FIXED CONTACT, AND A CONTACT PORTION FIXED TO THE OTHER END OF SAIDBLADE, SAID LEVER BEING TURNABLE BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION IN WHICH SAIDCONTACT PORTION IS SPACED FROM SAID FIXED CONTACT AND A CLOSED POSITIONIN WHICH SAID CONTACT PORTION ENGAGES SAID FIXED CONTACT; BIASING MEANSCOOPERATING WITH SAID LEVER AND BEING BIASSED SO AS TO TEND TO MOVE THELATTER TO SAID CLOSED POSITION; AND OPERATING MEANS EXTENDING FROM THEEXTERIOR OF THE HOUSING INTO THE LATTER AND INCLUDING A MEMBERCOOPERATING WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER AND BEING MOVABLE FROM ANACTIVE POSITION ENGAGING SAID OTHER END OF SAID LEVER TO MOVE THE LATTERAGAINST THE FORCE OF SAID BIASING MEANS TO SAID OPEN POSITION, AND ANINACTIVE POSITION SPACED FROM SAID OTHER END OF SAID LEVER SO THAT THELATTER WILL RAPIDLY MOVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SAID BIASING MEANS TOSAID CLOSED POSITION, WHEREBY SAID ARCUATE BLADE WILL PREVENT REBOUNDINGOF SAID CONTACT PORTION FROM SAID FIXED CONTACT AFTER ENGAGEMENT WITHTHE LATTER.